RUNAWAY LOCOMOTIVE

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 10

RUNAWAY LOCOMOTIVE

SIGNALMAN’S PLUCKY LEAP

After a mishap to the Euston-Strau-raer boat train in the early hours ono morning lately, the engine travelled tor miles without either driver or fireman aboard, and was eventually stopped b t \ a plucky signalman. The breaking of a coupling caused the driver to stop tho train, and he and his fireman descended Irom the engine to make investigations. While tliev were thus engaged the engine, with one mail coach attached to it, began to movo, and disappcaicd into the darkness. . Urgent messages wore sent to signalboxes along the line. As the boat train had been “ accepted, the line was clear, and the engine reached Rwth- ! well, ten miles from Annan where I Signalman Brown wns on the look-out, I having received instructions to do I what ho could ” „ Ther> is a gradient near Brown s 1 box and he found the engine was ; travelling slow enough for him to spring on to the footplate and bring it to a standstill. , ~ “ Had it travelled much further, ho said, “it would have dashed clown- ( hill all the way to Dumfries.” Another engine was sent to take the boat tram to Stranraer, the Irish mail boat having been, delayed until the tram passengers nrri ved